Daily Leader photo/Rustin WattLorenzo Rios attempts to pin Colby’s Luke Schroeder in the championship match of the 135-pound weight class. Rios scored an 11-3 major decision for the win.By EARL WATT & RUSTIN WATT• Daily LeaderA varsity newcomer is commonly referred to as fresh fish. It usually points out that it is easy to get a win over the rookie.Lorenzo Rios, a freshman Redskin wrestler, may have a rookie resumé, but he was no fish at the Southwest Classic. Rios stepped up to earn the championship at 135 pounds. He joined seasoned wrestlers Tyler Sutherland (152 pounds), Nate Davis (189 pounds) and Ricky Gomez (heavyweight) in earning a title for the Redskins.Liberal finished second overall behind Colby.“I didn’t think I was going to get first,” Rios said. “Now I need to keep practicing and working hard.”The Redskins had nine wrestlers finish in the top four of each weight class.“I wasn’t satisfied with second place,” Liberal coach Mike Pewthers said. “We had a couple kids there were in matches lose. That hurt us. We had four guys come through and get first place.”Adrian Salas took third at 112 pounds. Adam Meacham finished fourth at 125 pounds.Victor “The Fireman” Cruz lost the championship match at 130 pounds to sinish second, but may have set the record for the most firemen’s takedowns at the Southwest Classic.Rios won the 135-pound division.Valentin Borunda finsihed fourth at 140 pounds.Suthelrand remained perfect with a victory over Ulysses’ Derek Newell in the championship of the 152-pound division.Nate Davis knocked off Pratt’s Darnell Bortz for the title at 189 pounds.Chuy Torres took a fourth place finish at 215 pounds.Ricky Gomez turned in a perfect performance with a win over Colby’s Adam Weber in the heavyweight championshipLiberal will travel to Newton later this week for what is considered to be one of the toughest tournaments in Kansas. Twenty-four teams will vie for the title at the Newton Invitational.“We have to get in better shape,” Pewthers said. “ We will be working on technique. We have to drill, drill, and run.”

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The High Plains Daily Leader and Southwest Daily Times are published Sunday through Friday and reaches homes throughout the Liberal, Kansas retail trade zone. The Leader & Times is the official newspaper of Seward County, USD No. 480, USD No. 483 and the cities of Liberal and Kismet. The Leader & Times is a member of the Liberal Chamber of Commerce, the Kansas Press Association and the Associated Press.

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